THE FUTURE OF ETHICAL DECISION-MAKING IN HEALTH-CARE

As health care has become more complex in light of technological, econ omic, and organizational advances and changes, ethics has increasingly become a required component in decision making. This article examines four major trends: philosophical and practical problems with the plac e of ethics in health care, the necessity to broaden the focus of ethi cs committees, increase emphasis on interprofessional collaboration, a nd changes in the marketplace of health care delivery that will impact ethical decision making in the future.